Can You Golf While Pregnant? (How To Stay Safe)

For many years women were under the impression that their activities had to be restricted while they were pregnant. As research has continued and time has gone on, it has been widely accepted that this is no longer the case. 

Women should, in fact, continue to do what they do in their day-to-day life, even after becoming pregnant. This includes golf! 

I won’t tell you that golf gets any easier while pregnant, but it is certainly possible. 

Is It Safe To Golf While Pregnant? 

Golfing while pregnant is generally considered safe. The main reason women want to golf while pregnant is to stay physically active. The more active you can remain, the better you tend to feel while pregnant. 

For women that have played a lot of golf prior to getting pregnant, it may seem like a continuation of normal life to keep things going. 

There are some impressive benefits for women golfers who are pregnant, enough that you may want to pick up this sport even if you are a new golfer. 

Exercise

Playing golf is great exercise, which is part of the reason why golf is so addicting. Not only will walking help you improve your physical activity in a day, but you can also increase your core strength and gain flexibility while golfing. 

Golfing helps improve overall balance and stability, which is important for any pregnant woman managing how much their boy is about to change. 

Some forms of exercise can feel a bit too intense for women golfers, however, golf is not one of them.

In fact, golf is one of the least dangerous sports that women can play while pregnant. The chance of a collision or injury is very low with smart and careful golfers. 

Low Impact

Golf is considered a low impact sport. Even if you walk the entire golf course with a push cart, it’s still not entirely like running, basketball, or soccer. For some women with high-risk pregnancies, only low-impact sports are considered acceptable. 

However, it’s important not to overdo it. If you have never walked an 18 hole golf course carrying your bag, you may not want to start when you are 7 months pregnant. Ease into these kinds of things, and golfers always have the option to take a golf cart if necessary. 

Time Spent Outdoors 

Golf requires you to be outside for at least four hours for an 18 hole round. This is an excellent thing for any pregnant woman or any person!

It can be hard to find activities to stay outside all that long, but golf is a great way to get it done. One thing to remember is to protect yourself from the sun. 

With all of the exposure you get to the sun while golfing, be sure to prepare yourself by adequately protecting your skin. In addition, bring plenty of water so that you don’t become dehydrated while spending time outdoors. 

Consult A Physician 

Even though my wife has played golf while pregnant and have many friends and students that have played, it’s always best to talk to your doctor about what is best for you.

Chances are your doctor will recommend you do things that you are already doing; if golf is one of them, it’s typically safe to continue. 

Also, keep in mind that as your pregnancy progresses, it may get harder to get your full distance, don’t stress about this; it will come back. 

Tips To Play Better Golf While Pregnant 

If you decide that golfing while pregnant is a good fit for your lifestyle, there are some tips to ensure that you have a good round of golf. 

More Flexible Shaft/Lightweight Clubs 

Sometimes clubhead speed will slow down a bit as you play golf while pregnant. This slowing down of the pace of the swing is entirely normal and something to expect. 

Be prepared for this and help ensure you don’t shoot poor scores by using a more flexible and lightweight golf shaft. 

For the most part, women’s golf clubs are lightweight, but some are certainly easier to swing than others. If you don’t have the budget to buy new clubs, that is understandable; just stick with the lighter and easier-to-swing clubs in your bag. 

You may find that while pregnant, something like a hybrid or a 7 iron becomes a favorite golf club; this is entirely acceptable. 

Be Prepared For It To Get Harder

Unfortunately, as your pregnancy progresses, it gets harder and harder to shoot great scores. However, it may be easier to shoot excellent scores when pregnant than it is when you have a newborn, so enjoy that while you can. 

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to shoot low scores the entire length of your pregnancy; expect that as you progress further along, it’s going to get harder to go low, and you may even stop keeping your score at some point. 

The good news is you are out on the golf course enjoying it.  

Don’t Be Afraid To Accelerate Through The Shot

Accelerating through a golf shot is incredibly important. If you want the ball to end up straight with the proper ball flight and trajectory, you have to go after it a bit.

When playing golf while pregnant, don’t be afraid to go after the ball and swing with force. 

Some women are afraid of swinging too fast and that it will have some impact on the baby. However, if your doctor gave you the approval to play, this should not be a concern. 

It’s hard to hit great shots unless you accelerate, so push for it whenever you can. This is especially important around the putting green. 

A chip or pitch shot with a club that is decelerating tends to become a fat golf shot or a skulled shot. 

Pay Attention To Footwear 

The equipment you wear on your feet is incredibly important when playing golf while pregnant. Not only do your feet have to feel comfortable and supported, but you will want them to stay dry as well. 

I like to recommend shoes with soft spikes for women that are pregnant. This little bit of extra traction in the shoe can really help to keep things grounded and ensure that the swing is stable. 

In addition, when walking the golf course, these shoes tend to have a bit more grip. A slip or a fall on the golf course, especially in the morning hours when the grass is wet, is never a good thing.

It may be time to invest in some better golf shoes so that you are ready for any conditions on the course. 

Final Thoughts 

Hopefully, you now feel a bit less nervous about playing golf while pregnant. I played golf while pregnant with both of my kids, and although I should have spent more time doing it, I enjoyed every round I got. 

As helpful as this article can be to some women, the key is to learn how to play golf once you have kids! Playing golf with kids is such a rewarding experience, but there are certainly ways that it can go wrong. 

Enjoy your time while pregnant on the golf course; it’s the quietest your children will ever be in your backswing!